Control system



C. P. WEST CONTROL SYSTEM Oct. 13, 1936.

Filed Jan. 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill IIII ill WITNESSES:

INVENTOR C/mr/ex's P Wesf.

Patented Oct. '13, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CONTROL SYSTE Charles P. West, Edgewood; Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,

East Pittsburgh,

vania 2a., a corporation of Pennsyl- Appllcation January 6, 1933, Serial No. 650,396

My invention relates, generally, to electrical control systema'and, more particularly, to systerns for controlling the current supplied to a plurality of electrical circuits.

It is well known in the art that the current supplied to a' given load which is fed from an alternating-current source may be regulated by means of a saturable-core reactor having an alternating-current winding, which is connected in series with the load, disposed on the outer legs of the core of the reactor and a direct-current control winding disposed on the middle leg of the reactor. By varying the current in the controlwinding the degree of saturation of the core f of the reactor may be varied and, therefore, the effective reactance of the reactor and the cur-' rent permitted to flowthrough the alternatingcurrent winding and the load circuit may be controlled.

It is also known that considerable amounts of alternating-current energy may be controlled in accordance with variations in a small amount of direct-current energy by connecting two, or more, saturable-core reactorsin cascade relation, thereby utilizing one of the reactors as a magnetic amplifier. However previously known systems of this character have not been utilized commercially for controlling the current in a plurality of electrical circuits because of the large amount of apparatus required to control more than one circuit and the cost thereof.

An object of my-invention, generally stated, is to provide a system for controlling the current in an electrical circuit which shall be simpleand eflicient in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved system for controlling the current in a plurality of electrical circuits by means of saturable-core reactors.

Another object ofmy invention is to provide for supplying pulsating direct current to a plurality of control reactors individual to load reactors and which control the saturating current for the load reactors by means of a single set of valves or rectifiers and a single circuit common to all of the pairs of reactors.

Other objects of my invention will either be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

'In accordance with my invention, the current in a load circuit is controlled by a large reactor,

connected in series with the load. The saturating winding of this reactor is supplied with current through a second reactor whch serves as an 16 Claims. (Cl. 111-242) amplifying means. In this way a small amount of direct-current energy serves to control the current in the load circuit. The second reactor is provided with a plurality of windings which are so connected to a transformer through electric valves or directly to a source of suitable voltage, that the output current of the second reactorfwhich supplies current to the control winding on the first reactor, isthe equivalent of fullwave rectified current. 10

Since the transformer and electric valves which supply the second reactor may be utilized as a common means to supply any number of reactors for controlling a plurality of load circuits, a saving is effected in the cost of the equipment required over that for previously known systems, in which individual rectifying means are provided between each control reactor and its associated load reactor to rectify the output current of the control reactor in order 20 that the saturating winding of the load reactor will be supplied with direct current. i

For a fuller understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in con- 25 junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a control system embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modifica- 30 tion of the system shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a reactor I0 is utilized for controlling the current in a load circuit H, illustrated as supplying incandescent lamps. However, the system herein described may be readily utilized to control the current in loads of various other types, as, for example, electric furnaces, or other heating devices. The reactor lll'is provided with an alterhating current winding which is divided into two 40 sections l2 and '13, disposed on the outer legs and connected in series with the load, which is connected across conductors I4 and IS. The conductors l4 and I5 may be energized from any suitable source of alternatingwurrent energy (not shown). The reactor I0 is also provided with a control winding 16 by means of which the reactance of the reactor and, therefore, the current in the load circuit may be controlled, as hereinbefore explained.

The saturating winding l6 of the reactor II is supplied with current through a second or control reactor H, which is provided with a control winding l8, similar to the winding IS on the reactor it. However, each of the windings on the 65 outerv legs of the reactor I1 is divided into two sections, as shown on the drawings, section 2| of the winding on one leg being connected in series with section 22 on the other leg and, similarly, section 28 is connected in series with section 24. In previously known systems utilizing reactors connected in cascade relation, it is necessary to provide a means for rectifying the output current of the one reactor, which is alternating current,- before it can be utilized to energize the saturating winding of the other reactor, since the saturating windings of both reactors must be energized b direct current.

In the system herein described, the windings 2|, 22, 28 and 24 on the reactor I1, carry pulsating direct current having opposite polarities and the flow of the pulsating current through the saturating winding I8 on reactor I8, is controlled by electric valves 28 and 28 in such a way that the equivalent of full-wave rectified current is produced. The valves 25 and 26 may be any suitable device which will pass current in only one direction, such as copper-oxide disc rectifiers or thermionic tubes, which have the, characteristic of allowing current to flow through them in only one direction.

The alternating-current control energy for the system is supplied through a transformer 21, whose primary winding 88 may be connected to any suitable alternating-current source (not shown) or as shown in Fig. 2, the valves may be connected directly to the distribution circuit which supplies current to the loads being controlled.

In this embodiment of the invention, the transformer 21 is provided with two secondary windings 28 and 28. The winding 28 is connected in series with the valve 25 and the winding 28 is connected in series with the valve 28. Since the valves 25 and 26 will pass current in one direction, it is evident that current can flow in only one direction through a conductor 8|, which is connected to one side of the valves 25 and 28, and also that current can flow in only one direction through each of the windings 28 and 28 and conductors Hand 88, which are connected to the windings 28 and 28, respectively.

As a result of the action of the valves 25 and 28 and the relation of the secondary windings 28 and 28 to the primary winding 88 of the transformer 21, current will flow through the winding 28 and the conductor 82 in the direction indicated by the arrows during one half cycle and through the winding 28 and the conductor 88 during the other half cycle of each alternation of the current in the primary winding 88 of the transformer 21. Therefore, the current which flows in each of the conductors 82 and 88 is a pulsating direct current. No current will flow in' the conductor-82 when current is flowing in the conductor 88 and vice versa.

The conductors 8|, 82 and 88 may be utilized 8 control buses to supply control energy to a plurality of reactors which are connected in the same manner as the reactors I 8 and II. In-order' to simplify the drawings and description, only one other lighting circuit 84, which is controlled by reactors and 88, has been illustrated. However, it will be understood that as many circuits as desired may be provided, the apparatus and connections for each circuit being similar to those illustrated.

A portion of the pulsating current which is available on the control buses-82 and 88 will flow through the windings 2|, 22, 28 and 24 on the the saturation of the reactor III. The windings.

2|, 22, 28 and 24 are so disposed on the iron core of the reactor II that when a potential is im- Dressed from bus 88 to bus 8|, current will flow in windings 2| and 22 and through the winding I8 in the direction indicated by the arrows. When the voltage on the bus 88 falls to zero, as determined by the alternating voltage impressed on the primary winding 88 of the transformer 21, the current in the windings 2 I, 22 and I6 will also fall to zero. During the next half cycle of the voltage impressed on the primary winding 88, of the transformer 21, the potential on bus 82 will cause current to flow through the windings 28 and 24 and through winding I8 to bus 8|. In each case, the direction of the current flow through the winding 48 is the same, and a pulsating current results which is the equivalent of a full-wave rectifier current.

Considering the effect of the windings 2I, 22, 28 and 24 on the reactor I1, it is evident that they may be so wound on the core that when current passes through the windings 2| and 22, a flux is built up in the core in a certain direction and then dies out, and that during the next half cycle, when current flows through the windings 28 and 24, a flux is built up in the opposite direction. Therefore, the combined eil'ect of the four windings on the core of the reactor I1 is substantially the same as would be obtained from equivalent windings disposed as are the windings I2 and I8 on the reactor I8. It is evident, therefore, that the core of reactor I1 is aflected in the same manner as it would be by windings disposed in the same manner as windings I2 and I8, and carrying alternating current.

Since there is a change of flux in the core of the reactor II in response to each change of current in the windings 2|, 22, 28 and 24, it is evident that the back-electro-motive forces generated by the change in flux are the controlling factors for the current which flows through these windings.

It is also evident that the electromotive-force generated in the windings 2|, 22, 28 and 24 may be controlled by varying the degree of saturation in the core of the reactor I1 by means of the saturating winding I8, thereby controlling the current which will be caused to flow through them by a certain impressed potential.

In this manner, the direct current in the winding I8 varies the reactance of the reactor II, which in turn controls the value of the pulsating current permitted to flow through the windings 2|, 22, 28 and 24, and through the saturating winding I8 on the reactor I8. The degree of saturation of reactor l8 controls the current which flows through the load circuit I, herein K illustrated as comprising lamps. Therefore, by controlling the current in the winding I8, the

plied from any suitable source and may be varied in any convenient manner. In the system herein described, the direct current for the winding I8 is supplied from a generator 31 and is controlled by means of a thermionic tube 38 in a manner well known in the art. The filament of the tube 36 is energized from a transformer 33 and the grid biasing potential is supplied by a generator 4|. The biasing potential on the tube 38 may be varied by means of a potentiometer 42 to control the current permitted to flow through the winding it; If desired, aresistor 63 may be provided as an additional means of adjusting the current in the winding l8.

As previously stated, additional control units, composed of two reactors and 36, similar'to the reactors in and I1, may be connected to the evident that a considerable saving will be cffected in the cost of the equipment required for a system comprising a large number of load circuits, as compared with the cost of previously known systems wherein individual control equipment is required for each circuit.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the reactors l1 and 36 are of a'type in which their reactance may be varied by changing the air gap in the magnetic circuit, thereby controlling the' current permitted to flow through the pulsating-current windings and through the saturating windings on the reactors l0 and 35.

It will be noted that the transformer 21 may be utilized to supply the current for the load circuits, as well as the control current for energizing the control conductors-3|, 32 and 33. The rectifiers 25 and 26 may be connected to the outer terminals of the secondary winding of the transformer and the conductor 3t may be connectedto the mid-tap of the secondary winding, as shownin Fig. 2. In this manner the pulsating-current windings are alternatively energized with-unidirectional current to produce a pulsating direct current in the saturating control windings of the load reactors Ill and 35, as previously described. a

It will be noted further that in this arrangement, as in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1,

all of the control reactors ll, 36, etc., are controlled by means of a single set of rectifiers or valves 25 and 26 and a single circuit comprising conductors 3|, 32 and 33.

It is also apparent that other forms of control reactors l1 and 36 other than those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, may be utilized, it being immaterial to the functioning or the invention as to how thereactance of these control reactors is varied.

I do not, desire to be restricted to the particular form or arrangement of parts herein shown and described, since it is evident that they may be changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a control system, in combination, a load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, a reactor having a direct-current control winding and an alternating-cm'rent winding disposed to control the current in the load circuit, a second reactor having a plurality of pul- "sating-cu'rrent windings disposed thereon in opposed relation to control the energization of the control winding of the first reactor, means for alternatively energizing the pulsating-current windings of the second reactor, and means for controlling the reactance of the second reactor, whereby the current in the load circuit may be controlled.

2. In a control system, in combination, a load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, a'reactor having a direct-current control winding and an alternating-current winding disposed to control the current in the load circult, a second reactor having a plurality of pulsating-current windings for controlling the energization of the control winding of the first reactor, said pulsating-current windings being disposed on the reactor in opposed relation, means for alternatively energizing the pulsating-current windings of the second reactor with unidirectional current, and means for varying the reactance oi the second reactor, whereby the current in the load circuit may be controlled.

3. In a control system, in combination, a load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, a reactor having a direct-current control winding and an alternating-current winding disposed to control the current in the load circuit, a second reactor having a direct-current control winding and a plurality of magnetically opposed pulsating-current windings for controlling the energization of the control winding of the first reactor, means for alternatively energizing said windings with unidirectional current to cause a pulsating direct current to fiow in the control winding of the first reactor, and means for controlling the energization of the directcurrent control winding of the second reactor, whereby the current in the load circuit may be controlled.

4. In a control system, in combination, a load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, a reactor having a direct-current control winding and an alternating-current winding disposed to control the current in the load circuit, a second reactor having a direct-current control winding and a plurality of pulsating-current windings for controlling the energization of the control winding of the first reactor, said windings being disposed on the reactor in opposed relation, means for alternatively energizing said windings with unidirectional current to cause a pulsating direct current to fiow in the control winding of the first reactor, and means for controlling the energization of the. direct-current control winding of the second reactor, whereby the current in the load circuit may be controlled.

5. In a control system, in combination, a load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, a reactor having a direct-current control winding and an alternating-current winding disposed to control the current in the load circuit, a second reactor having a plurality oi magnetically opposed pulsating-current windlugs for controlling the energization of the control winding of the first reactor, means including electric valves for alternatively energizing said windings with unidirectional current to produce a pulsating direct current in the control winding of the first reactor, and means for controlling the reactance oi the second reactor, 75

whereby the current in the load circuit may be controlled.

6. In a control system, in combinatioma load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, a reactor having a direct-current controlwinding and an alternating-current winding disposed to control the current in the load circult, a second reactor having a direct-currentcontrol winding nd a plurality of magnetically opposed pulsatin -current windings tor controlling the energization of the control winding of the first reactor, a transformer disposed to energize said windings, electric valves interposed between the transformer and said windings to cause said windings to be alternatively energized with unidirectional current to produce a pulsating direct current in the control winding of the first reactor, and means for controlling the energization of the direct-current control winding of the second reactor, whereby the current in the, load circuit may be controlled.

7. In a control system, in combination, a load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, a reactor having a direct-current control winding and an alternating-current winding disposed to control thecurrent in the load circuit, a second reactor having a direct-current control winding and a plurality of magnetically opposed pulsating-current windings for .controlling the energization of the control winding of the first reactor, a transformer having two secondary windings disposed to energize said pulsating-current windings, an electric valve connected in series-circuit relation with each of the transformer secondary windings to cause said pulsating-current windings to be alternatively energized with unidirectional current to produce a pulsating direct current in the control winding of the first reactor, and means for controlling the energization of the direct-current control winding of the second reactor, whereby the current on the load circuit may be controlled.

8. In a control system, in combination, a load circuit disposed to be energized with alternating current, two reactors'connected in cascade relation for controlling the current in the load circult, one oi said reactors having a saturating control winding and an alternating current winding connected in series-circuit relation with the load circuit, the other of said reactors having a plurality of'magnetically opposed pulsating-current windings for controlling the energization of the saturating winding of the first reactor, a

transformer disposed to energize said pulsatingcurrent windings, current rectifying means interposed between the transformer and said windings to cause them to be alternatively energized with unidirectional current to produce a pulsating direct current in the saturating winding of the first reactor, and means for adjusting the air gap of the second reactor to vary its reactance, whereby the current in the load circuit may be controlled.

9. In a control system, in combination, a plurality of load circuits disposed to be energised with alternating current, a pair of reactors connected in cascade relation for controlling the current in each load circuit, one of the reactors of each pair having a saturating control windrent windings for controlling the energization of the saturating winding of the'first reactor, a

. being energised independently of said transformer disposed to energize the pulsating current windings on all of said reactors, a pair of electric valves disposed to cause the pulsating-current windings to be alternatively energized -with unidirectional current to produce a pulsating direct current in the saturating control windings of the reactors, and means for controlling the energization of the direct-current control windings oi the reactors, whereby the current in each load circuit may be controlled.

tive load circuit, gthe other reactor of each pair having a direct-current control winding and'a plurality of magnetically opposed pulsating-current windings for controlling the energization of the'saturating winding of the first reactor, a transformer disposed to energize the pulsatingcurrent windings on all of said reactors, a pair of electric valves disposed to cause the pulsatingcurrent windings to be alternatively energized with unidirectional current to produce a pulsating direct current in the saturating control windings of the reactors, a common source of direct current for energizing all of the direct-current control windings on the reactors, and means for individually controlling the energization of each direct-current control winding, whereby the current in} each load circuit may be individually cont led.

11. An alternating-current control system comprising a plurality of saturable-core reactors for controlling individual loads, a. smaller variable reactance associated with each load-controlling reactor and having current windings disposed thereon in opposed relation, and a common rectifying means for providing current for said windings, said current being controllable by the variable reactances for. saturating the saturable-core reactors.

12. An alternating-current control system comprising a plurality of saturable-core reactors for controlling individual loads, a pair of electric valves for providing unidirectional current for saturating all or the 'saturable-core reactors, a

variable reactance associated with each of the saturable core reactors for controlling the saturating current, and unidirectional current windings disposed on each variable reactance in opposed relation for alternately conducting the saturating current of its associated saturable-core reactor.

13. In a control system, in combination, a source of alternating-current power, a plurality of pulsating-current control circuits energized from said power source, common rectifying means for supplying all of said control circuits with pulsating direct current, and control means for individually controlling the current in each of the control circuits independently of the pulsating current supplying means, said control means pulsating current supplying means.

. 14. In a control system, in combination, a plurality of load circuits, a source of alternatingcurrent power, a plurality of pulsating-current control circuits for controlling the current in the load circuits, common rectifying means for supplying all of said control circuits with pulsatin direct current from the alternating-current power source, and control means for individually controlling the current in each of the control circuits independently of the pulsating current supplying means, said control means being energized independently of said pulsating current supplying means.

15. In a control-system, in combination, a plurality of load circuits, a source of alternatin8- current power, control devices for controlling the current in the load circuits, a plurality of control circuits for energizing the control devices, common rectifying means for supplying all of said control circuits with pulsating direct current' from the alternating-current power source, and control means for individually controlling the current in each of the control circuits independently of the pulsating current supplying means,

said control means being energized independently of said pulsating current supplying means.

16. In a control system, in combination, a plurality of load circuits, a source of altematingcurrent power, magnetic amplifying devices for controlling the current in the load circuits, a plurality of control circuits for energizing the magnetic amplifying devices, common rectifying means for supplying all of said control circuits with pulsating direct current from the alternating-current power source, and control means for individually controlling the current in each of the control circuits independently of the pulsating current supplying means, said control means being energized independently of said pulsating 15 current supplying means.

CHARLES P. WEST. 

